St. Vincent Sambar Deer

[kpenglish77]

After several years of putting in for this hunt I was lucky and blessed enough to get drawn. For a Texas boy going solo without a boat this will be a fun challenge. Bugs, gators, snakes, low odds.....whats not to like! Scoured the Internet for videos and message boards on this hunt, but if anybody has any experience or helpful info it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JDeanP]

If you want to take the hunt seriously, and want to hunt hard, hunt the east side. Only one stag was killed last year, it was on the east side and close to the water. GW wouldn’t let the hunter get his boat in there, so he and a buddy had to slog it in through thigh deep (and deeper) mud. It was a massive effort for a spike stag, but still very cool.

If you want to have fun in a cool place, and fart around, possibly shoot some raccoons (there are no pigs left), the west side is just fine.

Get there as early as you can, scout as much as you can, and be willing to go further into the uncomfortable places. They have killed them from the west side, but most of it is on the east. If you can bring an e-bike, a trailer, and I would advocate for a sled, bring them and a way to recharge your bike daily. Bring a way to carry a lot of water. It can get quite hot, and busting through the muggy swamp without water is asking for trouble.

Bring multiple thermacells. If I had to ditch water or my thermacell, I’m drinking swamp water. I may get the squirts, but I won’t have skeeter bites on my gooch.

 

[JDeanP]

Also, what’s your plan without a boat? You can make the west side in a kayak, or a canoe, I’ve done both. You aren’t getting to the east side without a boat or a looong walk.

 

[kpenglish77]

Also, what’s your plan without a boat? You can make the west side in a kayak, or a canoe, I’ve done both. You aren’t getting to the east side without a boat or a looong walk.

I already chartered a local guide to get me to the east side. Definitely bringing a bike.

 

[JDeanP]

I haven’t camped on the east side, but have multiple times on the west. Obviously don’t camp below the high tide mark, but if you can set up in the open and not under the trees, there should be enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes down while in camp. It’ll also help for drying out the rotation of hunting clothes during the day in direct sun. There’s too much condensation to dry clothes at night without a fire, so keep that in mind if dry clothes are a priority.

I don’t have much advice about specific spots on that end of the island, but if you have specific questions about weather, humidity, camp tips, etc, feel free to ask. Most anyone with a honey hole wouldn’t offer that up, but only a jerk wouldn’t give advice on staying comfortable in camp.

If you have a lot of time available, you might consider buying one of the earlier (October?) otc deer tags. I try to go every year, sambar tags or not, to learn the island better. It’s honestly one of my favorite places to hunt. It’s a very unique place/experience. Being able to get an extra weekend to scout and get the lay of the place is very beneficial. A dry run on camp setup, conditions, bike shakedown, etc. will make the sambar hunt that much smoother.

One more super important piece of advice that I highly suggest you take to heart…when you leave after the hunt, absolutely stop at the Indian Pass restaurant and have some oysters and cold beverages. I look forward to my stop there on the way out about as much as the hunt itself on the way in.

 

[kpenglish77]

I haven’t camped on the east side, but have multiple times on the west. Obviously don’t camp below the high tide mark, but if you can set up in the open and not under the trees, there should be enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes down while in camp. It’ll also help for drying out the rotation of hunting clothes during the day in direct sun. There’s too much condensation to dry clothes at night without a fire, so keep that in mind if dry clothes are a priority.

I don’t have much advice about specific spots on that end of the island, but if you have specific questions about weather, humidity, camp tips, etc, feel free to ask. Most anyone with a honey hole wouldn’t offer that up, but only a jerk wouldn’t give advice on staying comfortable in camp.

If you have a lot of time available, you might consider buying one of the earlier (October?) otc deer tags. I try to go every year, sambar tags or not, to learn the island better. It’s honestly one of my favorite places to hunt. It’s a very unique place/experience. Being able to get an extra weekend to scout and get the lay of the place is very beneficial. A dry run on camp setup, conditions, bike shakedown, etc. will make the sambar hunt that much smoother.

One more super important piece of advice that I highly suggest you take to heart…when you leave after the hunt, absolutely stop at the Indian Pass restaurant and have some oysters and cold beverages. I look forward to my stop there on the way out about as much as the hunt itself on the way in.

10-4 thanks for the tips. I'm going to spend a couple nights in the Apalachicola/Port St. Joe area prior to the hunt and hammer some oysters, local seafood and definitely some cold ones. Indian Pass is #1 on my list.

I'm going into the hunt knowing the low odds and difficulty but the experience will be awesome regardless if I harvest a Sambar or not. I'm lucky just to have been drawn.

I'm looking at setting up shop somewhere on that southeast part of the island where all the lakes are.

 

[kpenglish77]

......for my hunting spot, not camp.

 

[brentr9]

I can’t help you with the hunt, but if you want some advice on PSJ, I spend a fair amount of time down here. PM me if you need any tips on the mainland

 

[ChrisAU]

I need to start putting in for this. I love PSJ & SGI, go there every year. I'm only about 2.5 hours away. Almost bought a beach house in Mexico Beach a decade ago.

 

[brentr9]

I need to start putting in for this. I love PSJ & SGI, go there every year. I'm only about 2.5 hours away. Almost bought a beach house in Mexico Beach a decade ago.

You must be from Dothan

 

[ChrisAU]

You must be from Dothan

Basically, Abbeville about half an hour north of Dothan.

 

[brentr9]

Basically, Abbeville about half an hour north of Dothan.

Not to derail this thread anymore; but I spent a few years in Dothan and hunt up in Louisville now. Small world.

 

[kpenglish77]

I need to start putting in for this. I love PSJ & SGI, go there every year. I'm only about 2.5 hours away. Almost bought a beach house in Mexico Beach a decade

I can’t help you with the hunt, but if you want some advice on PSJ, I spend a fair amount of time down here. PM me if you need any tips on the mainland

Best seafood market? Plan to bring back a cooler of seafood with or without a Sambar in it

 

[brentr9]

We usually get fish and shrimp from St. Joe’s Shrimp Co which is south of downtown PSJ on 30A. It’s close to Presnell’s Marina. Indian Pass Raw bar is worth the stop. Unique environment and a good place to hang out to kill a couple of hours. Uptown Raw Bar in PSJ is popular but I would drive over to Indian Pass if you can. The Station in Appalachicola is another cool raw bar to stop in if you have time.

Where are you chartering out of? There’s small fishing towns all the way down the coast and each has something different to offer

 

[kpenglish77]

We usually get fish and shrimp from St. Joe’s Shrimp Co which is south of downtown PSJ on 30A. It’s close to Presnell’s Marina. Indian Pass Raw bar is worth the stop. Unique environment and a good place to hang out to kill a couple of hours. Uptown Raw Bar in PSJ is popular but I would drive over to Indian Pass if you can. The Station in Appalachicola is another cool raw bar to stop in if you have time.

Where are you chartering out of? There’s small fishing towns all the way down the coast and each has something different to offer

I’m getting in Monday, heading to the island Wednesday morning before hunt. Gonna check out PSJ, Apalachicola and St. George’s

 

[ChrisAU]

We usually get fish and shrimp from St. Joe’s Shrimp Co which is south of downtown PSJ on 30A. It’s close to Presnell’s Marina. Indian Pass Raw bar is worth the stop. Unique environment and a good place to hang out to kill a couple of hours. Uptown Raw Bar in PSJ is popular but I would drive over to Indian Pass if you can. The Station in Appalachicola is another cool raw bar to stop in if you have time.

Where are you chartering out of? There’s small fishing towns all the way down the coast and each has something different to offer

There is another St Joe's Shrimp Co on Cape San Blas. Been a few years since I've been to Cape San Blas but man I love that place. The whole area. Its still old Florida for the most part.

 

[brentr9]

There is another St Joe's Shrimp Co on Cape San Blas. Been a few years since I've been to Cape San Blas but man I love that place. The whole area. Its still old Florida for the most part.

That’s true. We’re actually on the Cape right now. The grocery store burned down earlier this year so not much out here except for St Joe’s

 

[KHNC]

I had zero success drawing with up to 3 points. Then Michael hit, and hunts were canceled and tags moved to the next year. I didnt ever apply again. Damn glad once i saw that place in person by boat. No interest in hunting there now, and success has dropped WAY DOWN. Hopefully you get one . I assume Sambar stag vs Whitetail tag.

 

[KHNC]

That’s true. We’re actually on the Cape right now. The grocery store burned down earlier this year so not much out here except for St Joe’s

Damn shame the raw bar burned and the red tide hit the bay .

 

[MallardSX2]

I never understood why they don't just rid the island entirely of whitetails and allow the sambar deer to populate to actual huntable levels. The whitetail hunt out there is a bit of a joke anyhow.